MEDIA RELEASE
Pride TT stands in full support of the The Law Association of Trinidad and Tobago (LATT) recent call for urgent constitutional reform to abolish the “savings law clause.” This outdated provision, embedded in our Constitution, continues to protect colonial-era laws—even when they blatantly violate the fundamental rights of citizens.
We call on all civil society organizations, labor unions, academic institutions, business leaders, and allies to join us in demanding swift legislative action. Parliament must move decisively to repeal these archaic laws that no longer serve a place in our democratic society and instead continue to reinforce systemic discrimination, especially against LGBTQ+ citizens.
The recent Court of Appeal ruling in the Jason Jones case underscores the destructive impact of the savings law clause. While the court acknowledged the unconstitutionality of Sections 13 and 16 of the Sexual Offences Act, it was nonetheless compelled to uphold these laws due to the constraints of the clause. This outcome demonstrates how the clause effectively blocks judicial progress and denies justice to marginalized communities.
“For far too long, our government—both past and present—has used this law as a shield to deny the basic human rights of LGBTQ+ citizens, fueling systemic discrimination that has left them exposed to harassment in public spaces, bullying in schools, workplace inequality, and threats to their safety,” said Kennedy Everett Maraj, Co-founder of Pride TT. “This is no longer a question of morality; it is a matter of justice and equality.”
“Parliament must act NOW to remove these outdated laws and constitutional provisions that serve no real purpose in our modern, progressive, and inclusive society—except to perpetuate discrimination and injustice,” Maraj said. “These legal relics should not be used to justify laws that violate basic human dignity. It’s time to ensure LGBTQ+ citizens are fully protected under the law, free from discrimination, and granted the same rights and opportunities as every other citizen.”
Pride TT echoes the LATT’s position that similar clauses have been repealed in other Caribbean nations without adverse consequences. This is proof that meaningful reform is both necessary and achievable. Trinidad and Tobago must follow suit if we are to build a truly inclusive and just society.
We call on Parliament to fulfill its constitutional duty to protect all citizens from discrimination and to ensure that equality is a lived reality for every person. By choosing to appeal the 2018 ruling by Justice Devindra Rampersad, which decriminalized private consensual acts between adults, Parliament has effectively aligned itself with the denial of fundamental human rights. We view this move as unjust, regressive, and unconstitutional.
The Court of Appeal’s judgment offers Parliament a critical opportunity to correct this wrong and place our nation firmly on the path toward equality, inclusion, and legal protection for all citizens.
We urge all human rights advocates, business leaders, educators, unions, civil society organizations, and allies to raise their voices. Stand with us in this fight for justice, freedom, and equality.
The time for action is NOW!
Pride TT 